NPR argues Lisa Simeone violated its code of ethics with her involvement in an Occupy Wall Street rally, but critics point out that she's long been publicly politically active. NPR/WDAV

October 21, 2011

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Freelance radio host Lisa Simeone was fired by her bosses at Soundprint, a documentary program addressing topics such as climate change and education that airs on NPR affiliates, because she helped organize an Occupy Wall Street-related protest in Washington. NPR's code of ethics prohibits its journalists from participating in rallies that involve issues it covers. Simeone — who still hosts a show called World of Opera — says applying the rule to her is like "McCarthyism," because she doesn't cover news. "What is NPR afraid I'll do," she asked, "insert a seditious comment in a synopsis of Madame Butterfly?" Did NPR overreact?

Firing Simeone was the right thing to do:Soundprint is a news-oriented show aired on taxpayer-subsidized radio, says Ed Morrissey at Hot Air. So "NPR did the right thing" by complaining and getting Simeone pushed out the door, because her activism would raise "questions about bias" that "would undermine its credibility." It's probably OK to let Simeone keep hosting World of Opera, "which should have little to do with modern politics.""NPR fires host that acted as Occupy D.C. spokesperson"